Process for hydrocarbon oil conversion



Nov. 28, 1933.

J. B. HEID v PROCESS FOR HYDROCARBON OIL CONVERSION Filed March 24, 1928 &

Patented Nov. 28, 1933 PATENT OFFICE PROCESS FOR HYDBOCARBON OIL CONVERSION Jacob Benjamin Heid, Chicago, 111., assignor to Universal Oil Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of South Dakota Application March 24, 1928. Serial No. 264,808

14 Claims.

The present improvements relate more particularly to a process and apparatus designed for the conversion of hydrocarbons having less commercial value into products of higher commercial value.

The object of the invention is to produce gasoline-like hydrocarbonssuitable for use as motor fuel from heavy non-gasoline-like hydrocarbons.

In the specific embodiment of the invention oil is heated to a temperature above its vaporization point. The vapors evolved are then heated to a temperature necessary to secure the proper conversion, and converted vapors are removed to the usual fractionating or separating tower where the gasoline-like hydrocarbon vapors are separated from the heavier hydrocarbon condensate.

The invention may be practiced under a vacuum, at atmospheric pressure, or super-atmospheric pressure. Some of the features of the present invention, comprise the maintenance of two separate circulating rings, one for the liquid and one for the vapors, the material passing through each ring being subjected to independently controlled conditions of temperature whereby the liquid is not over-cracked by being subjected to too high a temperature, while the vapors whichrequire a high temperature are subjected to the required high temperature.

As a feature of the invention, the two cyclically circulating rings are maintained separate and distinct from each other for a major portion of the travel of each, but are brought into contact during a minor portion of their travel to effect a transfer of vapors from the liquid to the vapor stream, and a transfer to the liquid of the heavier reaction products carried into the vapor stream, bringing about in effect a dephlegmation or equilibrium during said contact. 1

As a feature of the invention, the liquid strea may be caused to flow counter-currentto the vapor stream whereby the hottest vapors are brought into intimate physical contact with the coldest portion of the liquid while the hottest portion of the liquid is brought into direct physical contact with the coldest portion of the vapor stream. This assists in the securing of the condition of equilibrium referred to above.

If desired, a forced or induced circulation may be imparted to either the vapor or liquid streams, or both; in the event both liquid and vapor streams have imparted thereto an induced circulation, the same may be constant for each stream,

or one may be varied relative to the other.

" The utility of the invention as well as other objects and advantages will be more particularly apparent from the following description.

The single figure in the drawing is a diagrammatic side elevational view, partly in vertical section of apparatus in which the invention may be carried out.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the charging stock may be introduced through the line 1 controlled by valve 2 by means of the suction of pump 3, discharging from the latter into a continuation of the line 1 in which may be interposed a valve 4, said continuation merging with the line 5. A branch pipe 6 controlled by valve 7 may be tapped in the continuation of the line 1 communicating with a conventional type of heat interchanger 8, which is provided with the discharge 9 controlled by valve 10. The arrangement is such that all or any regulated portion of the charge mayor may not be passed through the heat interchanger 8, as desired.

The line 5 has interposed therein a throttlev valve 11 and communicates with a dephlegmator 12 which is of conventional type provided with the usual bafiles for retarding the ascent of vapors and descent of liquid, whereby eflicient dephlegmation takes place. The unvaporized portion of the charging stock together with the condensed portions of the vapors collecting as reflux condensate in the lower portion of the dephlegmator 12 pass into the reflux leg 13 controlled by valve 14, which line 13 merges with the line 15, controlled by valve 16, communicating with a still designated as a whole 17, mounted in the furnace 18. A line 19 controlled by valve 20 communicates with the reflux leg 13, line 15 and line 5 in such a manner that the valve 11 may be closed, and all or any regulated portion of the charge may be passed directly into the line19 and into the line 15, or the valve 16 may be turned down, and regulated portions of the reflux condensate passed through line 19 into the line 5 to be again passed into the dephlegmator. Other alternate operations will be obvious to those skilled in this art. I

four horizontally disposed drums or shells A, B, C and D. A and B are connected together by a number of horizontal tubes 21, which are located in and above the lower combustion space of the furnace 18, which combustion space is provided with the burner 22. Drums C and D are also connected together by anumber of hori- The still 1'7 in the present instance, comprises zontal tubes 23, which are located in and above the combustion space of the furnace, which said combustion space may be provided with the burner 2s. A fifth horizontal drum E may be located above drums A and B and below drums C and D, being disposed, if desired, at right angles to the drums A, B, C and D. Each of the horizontal drums A, B, C and D, is connected to drum E by what is generally known as a leg 25 which may take the form of a cylindrical pipe leading from a side of each of the drums A, B, C and D, into a side of drum E.

Located in the rear drum D and extending down through the connecting leg, through drum E and into the leg between drums E and A, is a rotating propellor shaft 26 carrying the propellors 27 and 28, functioning to circulate the oil in the leg 25 between drums A and E, and also functioning to circulate the vapors from drum D into drum E, the rotating propellors 27 and 28 forming what may be termed separate ring circulations within the still 17, one circulating the oil from drum E into drum A, then through the tubes 21 into drum B, and then back into drum E through the leg 25, and the other circulating the vapors from druml) to drum E, then up into 1 drum 0, passing through the tubes 23 back into drum D. It is, to be understood of course, that in the actual operation of the propellors that it may be necessary to rotate one propellor at a faster rate than the other. .For instance, the propellor 27 for inducing; circulation of the vapors, may be rotated at a faster rate than the propellor 28 inducing circulation of the liquid. Therefore, I do not want to limit the speed of the two rotating propellors to travel at the same rate.

1 After the mixture of unvaporized charging stock and reflux oil from tower l2 entersthe drum A, it is circulated and heated in the tubes 21 between drums A and B to the vaporization point, the vapors separating in drum E where the circulating propellor 27 forces or induces the evolved vapors into drum C, thence through the tubes 23 where they are heated to the desired conversion temperature, after which the vapors discharge into drum D.

During the cyclic circulation of the vapors, a small portion of said .vapors may be removed continuously from drum D by manipulation of the valve 29 in vapor transfer line 30, which connects with the lower portion of dephlegmator i2. Said vapors'in a'scending'through the tower 12 are fractionated by heat interchange with the incoming charge passed into tower 12 through line 5 as heretofore described.

Thus, vapors remaining uncondensed after passage through the tower 12, may pass out of the top thereof into the vapor line 31, in which may be interposed a valve 32 discharging into a second fractionating tower 33, wherein the lighter or gasoline-like vapors may separate from the heavier non-gasoline-like vapors, the former being removed through the line 34 in which may be'interposed the valve 35,-being condensed in the. condenser coil 36 and collected in any suit able receiver, while the heavier vapors may pass out as condensate through the line 37 in which may be interposed a valve 38, and either-cooled or condensed in the coil 39 as the case may be, the outlet of the coil 39 communicating with a conventional type receiver.

From the. bottom of drum B of still 17 a portion of the circulating oil may be withdrawn through line 40 controlled by valve 41, dischargbig into either or both of lines 42 and 43 controlled respectively by valves 44 and .45.- The line 48 communicates with a flash tower 46 wherein Leaaefa byreduction in pressure, the temperature is reduced and volatilization takes place, due to latent heat contained in the oil. Unvaporized oil from tower 46 may be removed through the line 47 controlled by valve 48 and passed into the discharge line- 49 in which is interposed the heat interchanger 8 and a valve 50, said lined communicating with a suitable source of storage. The line 42 also communicates with the discharge line 49.

Vapors separating in the flash tower 46 may be removed through the line 51 and passed either through the line 52 controlled by valve 53 into the leg 25 communicating with the drum 0, or all or a regulated portion thereof may be diverted from the line 51 into the line 54 by proper manipulation of valves 55, which line 5% communicates with a condenser coil 56 wherein they are condensed, and from which they are passed to suitable storage.

The temperature maintained in the lower combustion chamber of the furnace may be from say 700 to 900 degrees F., the particular temperature being used being that which it is determined is the most desirable to obtain vaporization of a certain type of oil, while the temperature of the upper combustion chamber through the medium of the burner 24 will be maintained at from say 1006 degrees F. upwardly, the particular temperature to be used being selected by the degree of conversion desired, and the constitution of the vapors. I

A process for the conversion'of heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons by the process described herein, will produce a very high quality gasoline-like product, particularly adapted for use as a motor fuel. The plant is so arranged that it is possible to operate the same using crude petroleum as charging stock, or any of the byproducts of crude petroleum, producing gasoline, gasoline distillate and fuel oil of a high quality.

From an operating standpoint, the process will through line 15. A sight glass gauge 57 may be positioned on the drum E to determine th liquid level'maintained-therein.

In the preferred operation, the level of liquid will be maintained at a point substantially midway of the height of the drum E.

I claim as my invention:

1. A process for converting hydrocarbons which comprises cyclically circulating hydrocarbon fluid in two closed rings, one substantially composed of liquid and the other substantially composed of vapor, preventing condensation in the vapor ring subjecting each ring to independently controlled conditions of heat, the liquid ring being heated to distillation temperature and the vapor ring to cracmng temperature, maintaining each ring separate from the other during the major portion of the travel thereof, but bringing the material in each ring into direct physical contact during the minor portion of the travel thereof, removing from the vapor ring controlled quantities of vapor, removing from the liquid ring controlled quantities of liquid, and'charging to the liquid ring an amount of charging stock sub:

stantially equal to the volume of vapor and liquid withdrawn from both rings.

2. A process such as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the vapors traversing the vapor ring are subjected to materially higher temperatures than the liquid traversing the liquid ring.

3. A process such as claimed in claim 1 further characterized in that the materials from the two rings flow counter-currently to each other during the period they are brought into direct physical contact.

4. A process such as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that the cyclic circulation in both rings, is mechanically induced.

5. A process for converting hydrocarbons which comprises cyclically circulating a closed ring of liquid hydrocarbon oil and a closed ring of hydrocarbon vapors, maintaining each ring separate from the other during part of the travel thereof and combining the two rings during another part of their travel, heating the liquid ring to a temperature sufficient to effect substantial vaporization during its separate travel and heating the vapor ring to a cracking temperature during its separate travel, and removing vapors from the vapor ring for condensation and collection.

6. A process as defined in claim 5 further characterized in that the liquid and vapor rings fiow countercurrently to each other during the period in which they are combined.

7. A process as defined in claim 5 further characterized by the removal of residual oil from the liquid ring and the reduction of pressure thereon to efiect distillation of such removed liquid.

8. A process for converting hydrocarbons which comprises cyclically circulating a closed ring of liquid hydrocarbon oil and a closed ring of hydrocarbon vapors, maintaining each ring separate from the other during part of the travel thereof and combining the two rings during an other -part of their travel, heating the liquid ring to a temperature sufficient to efiect substantial vaporization during its separate travel, and heating the vapor ring to a cracking temperature during its separate travel, removing vapors from the vapor ring for condensation and collection, removing residual oil from the liquid ring and reducing the pressure thereon to efiect distillation of such removed liquid, and passing the vapors of such distillation into the vapor ring.

9. A process as defined in claim 8 further characterized in that charging stock is fed to the liquid ring as the content thereof is depleted, and such charging stock passed in heat exchange relation with residuum of the distillation of the liquid removed from the liquid ring.

10. A process for converting hydrocarbons which comprises cyclically circulating a closed ring of liquid hydrocarbon oil and aclosed ring of hydrocarbon vapor, maintaining said rings separate from each other during part of their travel and while separated heating the liquid ring separate from each other during part of their to a distillation temperature and the vapor ring to a cracking temperature, passing vapors evolved from the liquid ring into the vapor ring, removing vapors from the vapor ring and subjecting the same to condensation.

11. A process for converting hydrocarbons which comprises cyclically circulating a closed ring of liquid hydrocarbon oil and a closed ring of hydrocarbon vapors, maintaining each ring sep-' arate from the other during part of the travel thereof and combining the two rings during another part of their travel, heating the liquid ring to a temperature sufiicient to effect substantial vaporization during its separate travel and heating the vapor ring to a cracking temperature during its seperate travel, maintaining the vapor ring at a temperature suflicient to prevent substantial condensation therein, and re-: moving vapors from the vapor ring for condensation and collection.

12. A process for converting hydrocarbons which comprises cyclically circulating a closed ring of liquid hydrocarbon oil and a closed ring of hydrocarbon vapor, maintaining said rings travel and while separated heating the liquid ring to a distillation temperature and the vapor ring to a cracking temperature, passing vapors evolved from the liquid ring into the vapor ring,

maintaining the vapor ring at a temperature sufiicient to prevent substantial condensation therein, removing vapors from the vapor ring and subjecting the same to condensation.

13. A process for converting hydrocarbons which comprises cyclically circulating a closed ring of liquid hydrocarbon oil and a closed ring of hydrocarbon vapors, maintaining each ring separate from the other during part of the travel thereof and combining the two rings during another part of their travel, heating the liquid ring to a temperature sufficient to efiect substantial vaporization during its separate travel and heating the vapor ring to a cracking temperature during its separate travel, removing vapors from the vapor ring and subjecting the same externally of the vapor ring to dephlegmation to cond'ense insufliciently cracked fractions, and condensing the dephlegmated vapors.

14. A process for converting hydrocarbons which comprises cyclically circulating a, closed ring of liquid hydrocarbon oil and a closed ring of hydrocarbon vapor, maintaining said rings separate from each other during part of their travel and while separated heating the liquid ring to a distillation temperature and the vapor ring to a cracking temperature, passing vapors evolved from the liquid ring into the vapor ring, removing vapors from the vapor ring and subjecting the same externally of the vapor ring to dephlegmation to condense insufllciently cracked fractions, and condensing the dephlegmated vapors.

- JACOB BENJAMIN REID. 

